Georgia Refugee Domestic Violence Program 2009-2010 service analysis

Georgia Refugee Domestic Violence Program
2009-2010 SERVICE ANALYSIS
Funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)
Georgia Department of Human Services
Division of Family & Children Services
Refugee Programs Unit

Define Program:
Due to the economic downturn, it is essential that government resources are used to maximum efficiency. The purpose of this analysis is to determine the overall effectiveness of the Domestic Violence (DV) Prevention and Intervention Program services.
Description of Program:
The State of Georgia Department of Human Services Refugee Programs Unit has contracted with the Center for Pan Asian Community Services (CPACS) to provide domestic violence prevention and intervention services for refugees who have been living in the United States for five years, or less. The service programs included: Community Education classes and intensive Support Groups for men and woman.
Community Education classes were provided to program participants with similar ethnic and cultural backgrounds and translation was provided. These classes were provided to males and females together and are provided on a one-time basis. The classes covered the following topics:
Types of violence Cycle of abuse Effects of violence on children Legal side of DV and resources
The Intensive Women and Men's support groups met weekly and required a total of 4 two-hour sessions to complete. These support groups create a space for participants to go deeper into the sensitive topic of DV. Separate classes were held for men and women and the curriculum themes for both groups were gender based. The topics covered were:
DV cultural definition and phase of violence
Gender roles and the impact on the community
Communication & Responsibility Stress Management

Methodology/Benchmarks:
This analysis was comprised from the following sources: The Annual Comprehensive Monitoring Review; the Service Provision Guidelines Performance Expectations/Outcomes and the Trimester Reports.

Funds Allocated:

Domestic Violence Program

$30,000.00

$25,000.00

$20,000.00

$15,000.00

$10,000.00

$5,000.00

$0.00

Com m unity Education

Men's Group

Funds Allocated $26,460.00 Funds Expended $26,460.00

$20,880.00 $23,400.00

Wom e n's Grooup
$26,280.00 $28,890.00

Funds Allocated Funds Expended

Funds allocated for Domestic Violence totaled $78,750, and exceeded goals by $5,130.00 (see graph above). All funds were spent by September 2010. Total Social Service (SSG) funding available for all contracts 09/30/09 09/29/10, equaled $1,702,464.00. Actual DV funds allocated and spent was $78,750.00, which was 5% of the total SSG funding.

Funds Ex pe nde d

36%

34% 30%

C ommunit y Educ a t i on M en' s Gr oup Women' s Gr ooup

Program Analysis:
A total of 294 refugee men and women participated in Community Education sessions, 65 men participated in the refugee Men's Support Groups, and 81 women participated in the Women's Support Groups.
The majority of men and women served were married. Some of the women were widows, none were divorced. Actual # of participants served in all 3 programs during this contract year = 440. Potential # of refugees that were eligible to receive these services for the past 3 years (program's inception) = 4,417.

100% compliance was achieved in all contracted service provision requirements. Participants exceeded the DHS expectation/outcomes for all Domestic Violence Services. Pre and post tests scores indicate the increased knowledge about DV (see graph below).
The demand for the Women's and Men's Group and Community Education Programs has resulted in expansion of the program. A total of 7 trainers served the Bhutanese, Burmese and Vietnamese communities, within DeKalb and Gwinnett Counties. All facilitators have been professionally trained in domestic violence, communication and parenting. The services provided are culturally and linguistically appropriate to ensure that participants fully understand the sensitive topics.
Although not funded by DHS, other services included counseling, information and referral, legal advocacy and emergency assistance. This allows refugees that receive services in the DHS program to have full access to a continuum of services as other needs present themselves.

DV Program Pretest and Post-Test Score

90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10%
0%

84.00% 63%
Com munity Education

85.00%

82.00%

57.00%

65.00%

Men's Support Gr oup

Wom en's Support Group

Pretest scores Post-test scores

Recommendations:
The Domestic Violence Program has exceeded in all contract obligations for 2009 through 2010 contract year. In 2009, CPACS received a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, to support the evaluation of Department of Human Services/Refugee Program's, Domestic Violence Program activities and examines the individual project's effectiveness. Also, the project focuses on data collection and evaluation of the current DV Program. Specific evaluation of fiscal year 2009 2010 has shown the program to be evidencebased and can be considered a best practice in Domestic Violence work with refugees. Evaluation work in this past fiscal year has included:
-Revised and implemented a pre/post test that reflects curriculum's learning objectives
-Conducted 15 semi-structured interviews that seeks to document the `how' and `why' the curriculum works to prevent domestic violence
-Implemented an online journaling system for facilitators to document best practices
Findings show the continued need for services and that the impact of the program (community education, men's groups, and women's groups) goes beyond education and support. Request to provide increase funding for greater demand of services and to support continued dialog and community building against DV. This program is strengthening social connections, creating healthy social norms and building a web of community connectedness.
"Empowering women is not just empowering a single person; it's empowering the whole community."

2009 2010 Domestic Violence Program Service Analysis

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